Today we’d like to introduce you to Cee Dillard.
Hi Cee, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Alright Cool! So first off I’ve been doing comedy for about three and a half years now — I started back in January 2022, right around the time the pandemic was beginning to settle down and things were opening back up.
Now most comics start off by hitting open mics, but personally, I felt like I needed to invest in a comedy class. That way, I wouldn’t have an excuse to back out — I figured if I was paying for it, I’d be all in. I ended up taking my first class at McCurdy’s Comedy Club in Sarasota, which just so happened to be their first class back since everything shut down during COVID.
To be honest, I’ve wanted to do comedy since 2013 , but I’m a world-class procrastinator. It took the entire world shutting down for me to finally take a chance on it. Plus, just graduating high school and trying to navigate the real world was a whole different beast. Looking back, I don’t think I would’ve been ready to focus on comedy back then anyway.
Taking that two-week comedy course really opened my eyes. I remember thinking, “Wow — I might actually be good at this if I keep working at it.” And from that moment, I was hooked.
Fast forward to now, I’ve made some serious progress as a performer. But what really blows my mind is all the amazing, interesting people I’ve met along the way — from fellow comics to audience members who truly appreciate the craft. That connection keeps me going.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’d say the first year in comedy was the toughest. For a few months, I was only able to get on stage once or twice a week. Then I hit a wall — I couldn’t afford to drive around anymore because I was completely out of money, and I wasn’t working at the time.
On top of that, I was living in Southwest Florida, which doesn’t really have a strong comedy scene. All of that combined made me step away from comedy for about 8 or 9 months.
Eventually, I got some help from a few high school friends back in Los Angeles who hooked me up with a job trimming weed in DeLand, Florida. Once I moved up to Central Florida and had money coming in, I could finally get back on the road and hit mics — not just in Orlando, but in Melbourne, Daytona, and even Jacksonville.
Since then, I’ve just been staying the course.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
After doing comedy for as long as I have now, I’d say the thing I’m most proud of is the simple fact that I’m still doing it. Like anything else, comedy comes with its ups and downs. Stand-up is brutal sometimes — you’re constantly being judged, and bombing or having a rough set is just part of the game. But it’s never shaken me. Sure, there’ve been moments where I’ve walked off stage thinking, “Damn, that was terrible. I suck at this.” But not once have I thought about quitting — and I don’t plan to anytime soon.
Honestly, I think what sets me apart is my willingness to fail — as much as I need to — and to stay as prolific as possible with my writing. Every time I get on stage, I try to bring something new. I don’t want to be the comic doing the same five minutes over and over again. Don’t get me wrong — there’ve been times I probably shouldn’t have opened with a brand-new, untested joke… but that’s what makes it fun. You only really get better by experimenting and learning from those early failures.
Another thing I’m proud of is that people often compliment my writing. I never really thought of myself as a “good writer” — I was just trying to come up with the funniest stuff I could. But when comics I respect pull me aside and say, “Yo, I love your writing,”. That kind of feedback tells me I’m on the right path.
How do you define success?
Success to me is making sure you and your loved ones are able to live comfortably off a career you enjoy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ceedillard_
- Facebook: Cee Dillard
Image Credits
Photo Credits-Travis Santo/@shotsbysanto
Preston Canavan/@prestoncanavan
